Committee approves bill to let utilities use 'grid-enhancing' technologies to ease transmission congestion

The House Commerce & Economic Development Committee voted 11-0 on Oct. 12, 2025, to give House Bill 93 a do-pass recommendation as amended after supporters said the measure would allow utilities to increase capacity on existing transmission lines using advanced grid technologies rather than building new lines.

Sponsor Rep. Ortez told the committee HB 93 targets “congested transmission lines” by asking utilities to include advanced grid technologies in their integrated resource planning and by providing guidelines for the Public Regulation Commission to approve recovery of reasonable costs under the state’s Grid Modernization Act.

The bill’s sponsor described the technologies as “grid enhancing technologies” and asked the panel to view them as “kind of like an energy efficiency for the electric grid” that can boost capacity on existing poles and wires without new rights-of-way. Dr. Anna Linden Weller of Western Resource Advocates, introduced by Ortez as an expert witness, said the amendments align proposed projects with ongoing PRC rulemaking and with the state energy department’s 2021 grid-modernization guidance.

The committee adopted two amendments before the final vote. One amendment replaced repeated references to “plans” with “projects” and narrowed the list of projects for which utilities may seek cost recovery; a second amendment clarified cost-effectiveness and revised a technical definition of advanced conductors and removed unnecessary references to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) requirements.

Utilities and trade associations testified in support. Ricky Lee Chavez of Inner West Energy Alliance said the bill will “help existing transmission lines carry even more electricity.” Dean Archuleta for PNM and Rico Gonzalez of El Paso Electric said the measure supports grid modernization and can lower long-term costs for customers. Sammy Cow, policy director at the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD), called HB 93 “a very important step in ensuring the affordability, sustainability, reliability, and resiliency of New Mexico’s electric grid.” Carrie Robin Brunder of Advanced Energy United told the committee the approach is “common sense” because it upgrades existing infrastructure rather than always building new lines.

Committee members pressed sponsors on effects for electric cooperatives. Sponsor Ortez said co-ops are not required to undertake projects or integrated resource planning but must report use of such technologies in annual filings; Dr. Weller reiterated co-ops can include advanced-grid activities in their annual reports to the PRC and are not compelled to build projects.

Representative Matthews asked what residents would see and hear; sponsor Ortez and witnesses emphasized the bill targets transmission (not distribution) and typically involves equipment swaps and monitoring devices rather than large construction. Ortez said advanced grid technologies can cost roughly 5%–10% of the price of building new transmission lines, a savings proponents argued would speed renewable integration.

The committee’s final action was a voice/roll-call on the amended bill; the clerk reported a final tally of 11 yes, 0 no. HB 93 now leaves committee with the amendments adopted and will proceed to the next stage in the legislative process.